Plums, plums and plums .....

Our gorgeous old plum tree has had a bumper crop this year. Most years we get a strong wind just as the blossom is setting and most get blown off. This year it's been a race between us and the birds. Normally I make chutney but in all honesty I just couldn't be bothered with all the cutting and mess as it was sooooooo hot the other week so I've made pickled plums which just seemed so much easier - pricking them with a toothpick and then pouring the boiling vinegar, pickling spice, ginger, cloves etc. mixture over them in the jars was very easy! Lets just hope in 2 months time they taste as good as they look!

Issie has been in seventh heaven doing "bird" watch trying to stalk and catch them as they get carried away eating the plums (don't you just hate it the way they do one little peck per plum?) What she fails to realise however it that she is wider than the birdbath so hiding behind that is a dead giveaway and as she launches into attack mode they have ample time to fly away .... Here's an action shot!